Odor-sealing valve for combination sewer drains



*May 21, 1935- B. A. CUNNINGHAM 2,001,901

ODOR SEALING VALVE FOR COMBINATION SEWER DRAINS Filed OC. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-511661'. l

ATTO RN EYS May 21, 1935. B. A. CUNNINGHAM 2,001,901.

ODOR SEALING VALVE FOR COMBINATION SEWER DRAINS Filed Oct. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff v INVENTOR Patented May 21, 1935 Ars Nr- OFFICE ODOR-SEALVING VALVE FOR COMBINTIN SEWER DRAINS` n. i

Brant A. Cunningham, Akron; 'Ohio Application October 14, 1933, Serial No. 693,627`

3 Claims.

entirely satisfactory. They cannot be econom-' ically and effectively used in sewer drains already constructed and even in new installations are objectionable in that the valve is frequently held in a partly open non-sealing relation by solids such as dirt, leaves, twigs, etc., which occasionally will lodge in the valve. i

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide an odor-sealing valve for stormwater drains which is simple and economical in construction, which may be easily installed in sewer systems already constructed and which will be effective in operation even .under adverse conditions when solids become lodged in the valve.

The foregoing and other purposes of the invention are attained in the valve illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular form thereof shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a diametral section through a man-hole on a combination sewer system and showing the stormfwater drains leading thereto with the improved valves in place;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View partly in section of the right-hand valve as shown in Figurerl,

the other valves shown in Figure 1 being of the,

(cl. 182-4) Y E3 and cooperate with the outlet openings from the'drains I2 into the manhole II. These `valves each comprise a bracket i4 which may be easily secured to any concrete or masonry wall employedfor the manhole by expansion bolts I5,V I5 inserted in sockets drilled into said wall above each drain outlet. Pivoted on each bracket I4 is a valve arm I6 which preferably is of L-shape extending first inwardly from the bracket and then downwardly so that its free end is substantially aligned with the center of the drain outlet. A valve member il is carried by the valve arm l@ and preferably is of waterproof flexible elastic deformable material such as a hollow rubber semi-sphere ora pad of soft cellular or spongy rubber or the like. The valve member I1 may be secured on a backing plate I8 as by screw bolts i821, I 8a so that the semi-spherical face of the valve member will enter and cooperate with the drain outlet. The valve member assembly including the backing plate I8 may be secured on a rod I 9 threaded through the free end of arm I6, and a valve-operating weight 20 may be threaded on said rod to any desired adjusted position in which it may be held by a set screw 2! to apply determinate pressure on the valve member il to seal it effectively against the drain outlet. The arrangement is such that the valve member I7 is positioned substantially upon a horizontal axis, and the backing plate I8 serves to support the valve structure against sagging,

and also serves to transmit the pressure of the weight 2li over a relatively large area with the result that the attaching face of the valve structure is not deformed and said pressure is utilized wholly for urging the convex surface of the valve against its seat on thedrain outlet.

As will be apparent from the foregoing the rubber valve member will normally be pressed against the outlet end of the drain conduit I2 by gravity, being somewhat deformed by the pressure so as eiiectively to seal said outlet. In round manholes such as shown the edge of the drain outlet will be non-planar, but notwithstanding this the rubber valve member will deform ,as required to seal such an outlet. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, in event solids such as a twig 22 become lodged in the drain outlet, the material of valve member I 'I will be deformed about the twig so as substantially to maintain the seal. It will similarly deform about other solids such as dirt, leaves, etc., which may become so lodged. The valve will swing open as shown in Figure 2 to the inward rush of storm-water, it being capable of swinging upwardly sufciently to provide a substantially unobstructed drain outlet.

By the invention a highly effective odor-sealing valve has been provided for the stated purpose. Obviously modications of the invention may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a sewer system having a manhole therein, a drain conduit leading to said manhole and having an outlet in said manhole, a valve structure of Waterproof, exible, deformable material disposed on a horizontal axis and having a surface thereof shaped to cooperate with and enter said outlet end of the conduit, means disposed co-axially of said valve structure for Vsupporting the same, and means operating through said support for yieldingly retaining said valve under deforming pressure against said outlet end of said conduit.

2. In combination, a sewer system having a manhole therein, a drain conduit opening into said manhole, a valve structure arranged on a horizontal axis having a convex portion of Waterproof, flexible, deformable material adapted to enter said conduit opening, a backing structure of rigid material on said valve structure, and means connected to said rigid backing for pendulously supporting said valve structure in position normally to close said drain opening.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which the valve is a hemispherical structure of soft, resilient rubber having a metal backing on its plane face.

BRANT A. CUNNINGHAM. 

